Tech exec, 30, who was crushed by a malfunctioning elevator in New York died from 'mechanical asphyxia' and blunt force trauma to his neck and body, authorities reveal, as a criminal investigation is launched by the NYPD

Samuel Waisbren died when the elevator in his Manhattan apartment building suddenly dropped while he was getting off in the lobby

Five people were still inside the elevator when the incident occurred Thursday

The 30-year-old's father, Dr Charles Waisbren, said his son was frustrated by the building's elevator service because it was always out of order

Waisbren said: 'The elevator had a myriad of problems for many, many years'

Manhattan Promenade was fined $1,300 in May after inspectors found a safety feature on another elevator had been 'disabled or tampered with'

The building was fined an additional $1,500 on Thursday after Samuel's death

Shortly after Samuel's death, a resident called New York City's 311 information number to file a complaint about the elevator with the Department of Buildings

Resident stated that the elevator 'shakes really bad' and people often get stuck

A GoFundMe page has been started in his memory to raise money for a youth basketball program Waisbren was a part of

The Manhattan man who was tragically crushed to death by a malfunctioning elevator died of blunt force injuries to his neck and torso, the city Medical Examiner's Officer ruled on Friday.

Sam Waisbren, 30, who died while trying to exit the elevator and into the lobby of Manhattan Promenade tower when it suddenly fell, trapping him between the wall and the elevator shaft on Thursday morning, also suffered 'mechanical asphyxia'.

The terrifying incident occurred at 8:15am Thursday in the luxury apartment building located on East 25th Street and Third Avenue.

On Friday, officials from the city Department of Investigation said they were investigating the tech executives' death, but would not elaborate any further on the focus of their probe.

According to the department's website, the DOI is responsible for 'investigating and referring for criminal prosecution cases of fraud, corruption and other illegal activities by City employees, contractors and others who do business with the City.'

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Samuel Waisbren, 30, died while trying to exit the elevator at the lobby of his Manhattan apartment building when it suddenly fell, trapping him between the wall and the elevator shaft

Samuel originally hailed from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and had lived in New York City for five years

Other residents of Manhattan Promenade (pictured) had also complained about the elevators. Manhattan Promenade was fined nearly $1,300 in May after inspectors found that a 'safety feature on one of the elevators was either tampered with or disabled'

Footage from the horrific moment, which was obtained by the New York Post, shows one man barely escaping the elevator ahead of Samuel.

Five other residents were still inside the elevator when it went hurtling downward and dragging Samuel with it.

The residents in the elevator weren't injured, but they did have to wait to be rescued by firefighters.

Shortly after Samuel's death, a resident called New York City's 311 information number to file a complaint about the elevator with the Department of Buildings (DOB).

'A resident was killed in the elevator. Every other week someone is getting stuck in the elevator,' the complaint reads. 'Customer states that the elevator shakes really bad.'

Inspectors from the DOB were at scene taking a look at the elevator on Friday. They will work to determine whether the occurrence was 'a one off' or if action needs to be taken to inspect elevators citywide.

The elevator that killed Waisbren was installed in 1997 and has no history of safety-related violations.

Shortly after Samuel's death, a resident called New York City's 311 information number to file a complaint about the elevator with the Department of Buildings (DOB). 'A resident was killed in the elevator. Every other week someone is getting stuck in the elevator,' the complaint reads. 'Customer states that the elevator shakes really bad'

However residents of Manhattan Promenade have long since been complaining about the elevators, according to ABC7 reporter CeFaan Kim.

On his Twitter account, Kim quoted one resident as saying there was 'constant issues with the elevators'.

'Super scary. They always jump between floors. It's like that Halloween horror nights thing that hops up and down,' the resident reportedly said.

Other residents are now taking the stairs because they were too traumatized by Samuel's death.

Some residents said they have had to walk up 16 flights of stairs following the accident.

'My husband and I walked up 16 flights, but we've done it before,' one resident told WCBS 880.

'I've lived here for two years and they've been messed up for years and I know people have complained, and then, they've been shut down for a while and nothing really changes.'

Earlier on Friday, Samuel's father, Dr Charles Waisbren, told Good Morning America that his son had complained about the elevator service before.

'One of the elevators was always out of service and he was frustrated by it. I know the other tenants were frustrated by it and we thought it was ridiculous,' his father said.

Dr Charles Waisbren (pictured), Samuel's father, said his son had complained about the elevator service and it was 'ridiculous' it hadn't been fixed

Samuel (second from right) was crushed to death Thursday morning when the elevator he was exiting suddenly dropped and plunged toward's the building's basement

Firefighters were seen looking down the elevator shaft following the incident at 344 Third Avenue

Samuel had moved to New York from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about five years ago, according to his father.

'We sent him out there to find fame and fortune, which he did,' Waisbren said, adding that his son 'loved New York'.

'He did well, he was living in a fancy New York building. The elevator had a myriad of problems for many, many years. Obviously it's a horrible tragedy,' he told GMA.

'He is not going to be able to be a father, have a family and live the life we all hoped for him,' he added.

His father also told The New York Daily News late Thursday night: 'My feeling about New York is you pay a bazillion dollars for rent, the least they could do is provide safety,' Charles Waisbren stated.

'Sam was an absolutely wonderful young man. He had his whole life ahead of him,' his father added.

A GoFundMe page has been started for the Sam Waisbren Milwaukee Memorial Basketball Program in his memory. The money will benefit a youth basketball program he was a part of for seven years in his childhood.

It's unclear how long he had been residing at Manhattan Promenade - the luxury residential building where one-bedroom apartments lease for $3,600 per month.

Manhattan Promenade in the Gramercy area was fined nearly $1,300 in May after inspectors found that a 'safety feature on the other elevator in the building was either tampered with or disabled'.

The safety feature, known as a door zone restrictor, stops an elevator door from opening more 'than a few inches when an elevator in between floors'.